Real Madrid No2 Aitor Karanka defended coach Jose Mourinho after he refused to speak at yesterday's media conference.
Mourinho's decision not to speak to the media ahead of tomorrow's 'El Clasico' with Barcelona resulted in a walk-out by scores of journalists at the start of Fridays press conference.
Karanka said: "Whenever the coach speaks his words are blown out of proportion. He doesn't want that, nor does he want to be the one who heats things up before the match.
"He's preferred to stay quiet to avoid misunderstandings and it's not the first time I've spoken, it's a way of working.
"I've already been out (to speak to the media) 11 times, this isn't something unusual."
Asked if Mourinho not speaking to the media could be seen as a lack of respect to the Madrid fans, Karanka added: "We have the opinion of the fans in the Bernabeu and on the street. What the fans want is that Real Madrid are where they are now.
"They don't want a team that is knocked out of the cup by a Segunda Division B side, nor a team who continually fall at the last 16 of the Champions League.
"They want a coach who works 100 per cent every day and is able to make the team fight for every title."
